Hi everyone, it’s Chris “frecklemama” Warnick, and I am delighted to bring you this easy and fun alphabet project using Moda’s adorable mini-charm packs.
This alphabet is based on using squares and half-square triangles (HSTs) so you can adapt it easily to use any size square. The project would work using jelly roll strips cut into squares or scaled up to use charm squares or even layer cake squares. Want to add a message to a table runner or a monogram to a quilt backing? This project provides a quick road map for making each letter without needing any fancy supplies or advanced skills.
For this tutorial I made a banner for an upcoming sewing retreat. Other ideas for this project might include your business name as a banner for a craft fair table, your blog name for a photography background or header photograph, or a funny saying for your BFF’s craft room.
Because your use of the alphabet will differ from mine, you will need to sketch out your own project to get an idea of proportion and fabric requirements. I use graph paper and have each square on the grid equal one 2.5″ mini-charm square.
– Mini-charm packs, jelly roll strips, regular charm packs cut into four squares or yardage cut into 2.5″ squares*.
– Background fabric. In this project I used white jelly roll strips to create background squares and skinny sashing strips.
* IMPORTANT: In order for your letters to be legible, you really need to choose fabric that contrasts strongly with your background fabric. I needed several mini-charm packs in order to pick out the charms that had the highest contrast to my white background.
– In this tutorial I used 7 mini-charm packs of Snap Pop by Sandy Gervais. I also used some strips of a Bella white jelly roll as the background fabric and sashing.
– Backing
– Batting
– Binding
First determine what words you will be making. Use the alphabet sketch to map out which blocks you are making and which squares are needed for each block.
For example, if you are going to make an “A” you will lay out your squares like this:
Sew them together like this:
Once you have your letters made, you will separate them with skinny strips of your background fabric. In the case of my project, I used skinny sashing strips cut into 1 1/4″ strips. That is equivalent to a jelly roll strip sliced in half, long ways. Once each word was completed, I finished it by framing it with additional skinny strips.
Determine the layout of your words by auditioning them in different ways. In the case of my sample, I stacked my words in a vertical stack and determined that I wanted about 2″ additional framing of background fabric along the sides.
Once I was happy with my layout, I sewed the top together, quilted it with backing and batting, and machine bound it (Note: the binding is a yellow print from Kate Spain’s upcoming line Daydream).
Because my banner’s shape is irregular, I chose to use bias binding. For such a small project, I determined that I could cut my binding at only 2″ to maximize my fabric. I was able to bind this banner with only a Fat Quarter of fabric! The banner measures approximately 38″ x 35″ at its largest width and height.
Curious what “The Stash Bash” is all about? Visit www.TheStashBash.com to learn about a weekend of pajamas, friends, sewing machines, laughter, great food, and plenty of our two favorites: chocolate and fabric!
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